Rig Veda 2.40.5: Mandala 2, Sukta 40, Mantra 5
Sukta 2.40
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Soma-Pūṣan
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
विश्वान्यन्यो भुवना जजान विश्वमन्यो अभिचक्षाण एति । सोमापूषणाववतं धियं मे युवाभ्यां विश्वाः पृतना जयेम ॥
víśvāny anyó bhúvanā jajā́na víśvam anyó abhicákṣāṇa eti | somā́pūṣaṇāv ávataṃ dhíyaṃ me yuvā́bhyāṃ víśvāḥ pṛ́tanā jayema ||
दोघांपैकी एकाने सर्व भुवने जन्माला घातली; दुसरा सर्वकाही पाहत संचारतो. हे सोम-पूषणा, माझ्या धिया (बुद्धी/प्रेरित वाणी)ला आधार द्या—तुमच्या दोघांच्या बळावर आम्ही सर्व पृतना (युद्धे) जिंकू.
Word by Word
- विश्वानि
- all (things), all beingsAdjective (used substantively)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole Karma (of जजान) / also possible Kartā in sense-contextRoot विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- अन्यः
- the one (other), one of the twoPronoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- भुवना
- worlds, beings, realmsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot भुवन (प्रातिपदिक)
- जजान
- has begotten/producedVerbलिट् (परस्मैपद), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root √जन् (जनँ)
- विश्वम्
- the whole, everythingAdjective (used substantively)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (of एति) / also possible Kartā in sense-contextRoot विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- अन्यः
- the other one (of the pair)Pronoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- अभिचक्षाणः
- looking upon, overseeingParticiple (present middle)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; शानच्-प्रत्यय (आत्मनेपद-वर्तमान कृदन्त)Role Kartā (qualifying अन्यः)Root अभि-√चक्ष् (चक्षँ) → अभिचक्षाण (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
- एति
- goes, moves, proceedsVerbलट् (परस्मैपद), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root √इ (इण्)
- सोमापूषणौ
- Soma and PūṣanNoun (dual compound/dvandva)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/सम्बोधन, द्विवचनRole Kartā (of अवतं) / also vocative addressRoot सोम (प्रातिपदिक) + पूषन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अवतं
- help (you two), protectVerbलोट् (परस्मैपद), मध्यमपुरुष, द्विवचनRole (क्रिया)Root √अव् (अवँ) / √अव् (रक्षणे)
- धियम्
- thought, prayer, insightNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot धि (प्रातिपदिक)
- मे
- my, of mePronounषष्ठी (एन्क्लिटिक), एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive: ‘of me’)Root अस्मद्
- युवाभ्याम्
- by you two, with you twoPronounतृतीया, द्विवचनRole KaraṇaRoot युवाम् (2nd person pronoun base) / युष्मद् (dual instr.)
- विश्वाः
- all (f.) [i.e., all]Adjective (used substantively)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole Karma (of जयेम)Root विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- पृतनाः
- battles, hostilitiesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole Karma (apposition to विश्वाः) / object-domain of जयेमRoot पृतना (प्रातिपदिक)
- जयेम
- may we win/conquerVerbविधिलिङ् (परस्मैपद), उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole (क्रिया)Root √जि (जि) / √जि (जय)
Sandhi Notes
- Resolved padapāṭha-style segmentation: विश्वा॑न्य॒न्यो → विश्वानि + अन्यः
- ज॒जान॒ (no external sandhi)
- विश्व॑म॒न्यो → विश्वम् + अन्यः
- अ॑भि॒चक्षा॑ण → अभिचक्षाणः (nom. sg. m.)
- सोमा॑पूषणा॒वव॑तं → सोमापूषणौ + अवतं
- धियं॑ मे (no sandhi)
- यु॒वाभ्यां॒ (instr. du.)
- विश्वा॒: पृत॑ना → विश्वाः + पृतनाः
- जयेम (no sandhi). Accents retained as in saṃhitā
- pada forms given without accent marks
The meaning
Outer meaning
One of the two brought forth all the worlds; the other moves beholding all. Soma and Pūṣan, uphold my thought; by you may we conquer all battles.
Inner meaning
The rishi distinguishes two complementary divine functions: a creative power that “brings forth the worlds” (Soma as the generative delight-essence that supports manifestation and cohesion of planes), and a witnessing-guiding power that “moves beholding all” (Pūṣan as the all-seeing guide in the journey, ensuring right track through complexities). The prayer turns inward: “uphold my dhī” (inspired thought/vision). Dhī is not ordinary thinking but the luminous, truth-borne intelligence that can receive revelation. With dhī upheld, “battles” (pṛtanāḥ) become inner struggles against obscurity, inertia, and division; victory means mastery of resistance and successful integration of the being under the divine guidance and delight.
Universal truth
Creation and guidance, delight and discernment, must work together. When inspired intelligence is supported by these powers, one can meet every conflict—outer or inner—with a victorious consciousness.
Themes
Inner battle, Protection of insight, Cosmic functions, Victory
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Lineage
- Bhārgava (traditionally associated with the Gṛtsamada lineage)
- Other hymns
- RV 2.23–24 (victory through opening of light), RV 2.40.1–4 (Soma-Pūṣan guidance and increase), RV 2.41.1 (invocation of Vāyu for Soma-drinking)
Family tradition
The Gṛtsamada corpus frequently asks for dhī (inspired vision) and victory (jaya) as inner conquest, not merely external triumph.
Significance
This verse condenses the yoga: receive the supported dhī, then win the pṛtanāḥ—transformative victories that clear the way for integral realization.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma–Pūṣan (dual)
- Epithets
- abhicakṣāṇa (all-beholding, implied), jajāna (world-generator, implied)
- Related deities
- Indra (victory and illumination), Bṛhaspati (upholder of dhī and opener of the cows), Agni (leader and purifier of the inner sacrifice)
Cosmic role
Soma as creative, sustaining delight that supports manifestation; Pūṣan as the mobile, overseeing guide who ensures right movement across worlds.
Inner power
Soma stabilizes and sweetens consciousness so revelation can form; Pūṣan provides vigilant guidance and practical rightness in action, enabling victory over resistance.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma-yajña context; prayer for successful rite and victorious outcomes.
विश्वा॑न्य॒न्यो भुव॑ना ज॒जान॒ विश्व॑म॒न्यो अ॑भि॒चक्षा॑ण एति । सोमा॑पूषणा॒वव॑तं॒ धियं॑ मे यु॒वाभ्यां॒ विश्वा॒: पृत॑ना जयेम ॥
विश्वा॑नि । अ॒न्यः । भु॒व॒ना । ज॒जान॑ । विश्व॑म् । अ॒न्यः । अ॒भि॒ऽचक्षा॑णः । ए॒ति॒ । सोमा॑पूषणौ । अव॑तम् । धिय॑म् । मे॒ । यु॒वाभ्या॑म् । विश्वाः॑ । पृत॑नाः । ज॒ये॒म॒ ॥
viśvāni | anyaḥ | bhuvanā | jajāna | viśvam | anyaḥ | abhi-cakṣāṇaḥ | eti | somāpūṣaṇau | avatam | dhiyam | me | yuvābhyām | viśvāḥ | pṛtanāḥ | jayema
44
4×11 syllables (approx.)
Assertive and martial yet lucid; suitable for prayer for dhī and victory.
Builds confidence and inner firmness; supports a ‘victory’ resolve without agitation.
- भुवना (bhuvanā)
- Literal: worlds, planes of existence. Symbolic: Levels of consciousness and their organized manifestation
- जजान (jajāna)
- Literal: has generated/brought forth. Symbolic: Creative emergence of ordered experience from delight-essence
- अभिचक्षाणः (abhicakṣāṇaḥ)
- Literal: beholding, overseeing. Symbolic: Witnessing guidance; vigilant discernment in movement
- धियम् (dhiyam)
- Literal: thought, understanding, inspired intelligence. Symbolic: Revelatory cognition (inner seeing) that steers the yoga
- पृतनाः (pṛtanāḥ)
- Literal: battles. Symbolic: Inner conflicts with ignorance, desire, inertia, and hostile formations
Prayer for protection of dhī (inspired intelligence) and victory in pṛtanā (conflicts), suitable for Soma offerings where inner strength and right perception are sought.
When seeking support for inspired formulation (dhī) and overcoming obstacles in the sacrifice or life.
Invocation for protection of insight and conquest of opposing forces.
Chant before difficult decisions, exams, debates, or inner work against habits; use as a dhī-and-victory mantra.
abhicakṣāṇa: abhi- + √cakṣ ‘see’ (PIE *kweks- ‘see’ is debated; Vedic √cakṣ has clear Indo-Iranian parallels). pṛtanā ‘battle’ from √pṛt/√pṛ ‘strive, contend’ (semantic field of conflict). dhī from √dhī ‘think, perceive’, central Vedic term for inspired insight.
dhī (inspired thought), victory as establishment of ṛta against obstruction, creator vs seer functions within paired divinities
The all-beholding guide ensures r̥ta in motion; victory is alignment replacing disorder.
Dhī is satya-bearing cognition; upheld dhī becomes the instrument of conquest.
Worlds generated and overseen—creation plus governance as two divine functions.
Integral Yoga reading: manifestation supported by ananda; guidance by conscious discernment; victory as transformation.
‘Worlds’ are inner planes; ‘beholding movement’ is mindful awareness; ‘battle’ is the friction between higher intention and lower habit-energy.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- A paired-function mythologem: one deity generates the worlds, the other oversees them by luminous vision. This becomes a yogic demand: support the dhī so the human can win the pṛtanās—inner wars against ignorance and disorder.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The opposition ‘beget’ (√jan) vs ‘see’ (√cakṣ) encodes an old IE pairing of creator/sovereign-witness functions. The optative jayema expresses archaic wish-mode typical of early Indo-European prayer diction.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi asks for direct support of dhī—the inner instrument that receives and shapes truth—so that divine cosmic functions translate into human victory. The ‘gift’ sought is strengthened consciousness capable of overcoming all resistances.
Invoke support for dhī: sit upright, feel a luminous thought-current descending; then offer each ‘battle’ as a place for light to act.
Ājñā (dhī, inner seeing)
Square breathing (4-4-4-4) to stabilize mind; on retention, silently repeat ‘avataṃ dhiyam me’.
Vigilant calm (witnessing) with victorious will.
Name one inner conflict. Chant once for seeing (abhicakṣāṇa), once for delight (Soma), once for guidance (Pūṣan), then rest in a quiet certainty of victory without strain.
Maintain Vedic accents; keep clarity on ‘somāpūṣaṇā’ and the imperative ‘avataṃ’.
Let the third pāda (‘somāpūṣaṇāv avataṃ dhiyam me’) be slightly more supplicatory; the fourth pāda more resolute.
‘abhicakṣāṇa’—articulate kṣā (क्षा) cleanly., ‘pṛtanā’—roll the syllabic ṛ; do not reduce to ‘pr’., Keep dual ending -au in somāpūṣaṇau as a clear diphthong.
Firm, bright, and steady; avoid harshness despite martial content.
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